Connected and modern: how to modernize your leadership
“ What got you here will not get you there! “
Marshall Goldsmith
You’ve probably already heard this phrase from the book by renowned coach Marshall Goldsmith, which I like to translate as: "Update our success strategies."
The connected world has taken over the world of work, and the AI wave is now an incredible opportunity for evolution. Everything is changing: new generational expectations, codes, norms—and your teams are expecting you to be a modern and connected leader. Are you ready to meet the challenge?
A connected leader is someone who embraces change and constantly reinvents themselves!
1. The trap of the past: your greatest potential enemy
Success is a blessing. But when that success traps you in outdated habits, it becomes a problem. Too often, leaders stay stuck in patterns that worked well… in a workplace that no longer exists. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
How have I evolved my decision-making processes?
Am I still relying too much on my instincts?
Do I invest in learning, reading, and analyzing this new world and its influence strategies?
Am I leveraging the data I need to drive my strategies?
What are my unconscious biases? (Spoiler alert: way more than you think!) Check out our article: How to be fairer by recognizing cognitive bias.
The digital world has changed the rules: remote team management, use of AI tools, agile and lean strategy. And you—where do you stand?
2. The digital revolution: adapt fast or become irrelevant
Modernizing your digital leadership means learning to navigate a world where technology is redefining business and management. It’s no longer enough to follow the digital trend—you need to be a driver of that transformation.
Tangible digital challenges to tackle:
To modernize your leadership in today’s digital world, here are a few key challenges:
Master video communication: Long meetings are no longer effective. You need to be able to deliver short, impactful formats that grab the attention of distributed teams.
Focus on the right data and use it systematically, relying on the right analytics tools to guide strategic decisions. Whether through dashboards or predictive AI reports, data is your best ally.
Integrate artificial intelligence: AI can transform the way you work. From automating repetitive tasks to predicting trends, it’s now a must-have to stay ahead.
Make inclusivity an innovation strategy: Embedding diversity at every level of your organization boosts innovation. Diversity, gender balance, age diversity—all are key to more innovative solutions and engaged teams, whether or not certain politicians agree.
Your ability to meet these challenges will define your relevance. Reinventing yourself is evolving your DNA—thanks, epigenetics—to remain competitive.
3. Accelerate your personal go-to-market
Recognizing that you can’t know everything—and being open to being challenged by your teams—is a sign of strength. It accelerates your go-to-market and sharpens your approach to working, thinking, and managing. How? Here are a few ideas:
Reverse mentoring: learning from the younger generation
Reverse mentoring is simple: let your (often younger) employees—or get a young coach (mentally, not necessarily biologically!)—teach you new codes, tools, and methods. Success today lies in finding the right balance between youth and experience, freshness and vision. These fresh ideas are often the key to escaping a dangerous status quo.
Ask yourself the real questions
Put yourself to the test:
Do my teams really feel free to challenge my ideas?
When a team member proposes a different solution, do I truly listen—even when surprised?
How often have I been positively surprised by my team?
Have I recently incorporated team feedback into my approach?
Step outside your comfort zone
Taking calculated risks is essential. To do this:
Test quickly: Try out new solutions, even if they disrupt your habits.
Accept failure: Every failure is a lesson to adjust your strategy.
Open up to innovation: Your teams have digital skills—use them more!
You have the team you deserve. If you're not getting the feedback or results you expect, challenge yourself, embrace feedback, or make changes within your team.
4. Practical strategies to modernize your leadership
Here are a few simple yet powerful actions to accelerate your digital leadership transformation:
A. Commit to deep learning
If you’re not yet regularly using data and AI tools, you’re already behind. Understanding these tools is key to running your company more efficiently—and setting an example for your teams. Train for at least a few hours a week. Personally, between AI and Hubspot, I easily exceed two hours.
B. Transform with your teams
Transformations are no longer top-down. They’re increasingly collaborative. Take CRM, for example: if only the expert implements it without consulting the teams who’ll use it, you risk creating a gap between strategy and operational reality. Your teams must understand how the tool optimizes their work through better data usage and smarter decisions.
Effective digital leadership involves everyone, no matter their role. Include your teams from the start:
Organize workshops to test and adapt.
Appoint change champions within each team.
Test in small groups before scaling up.
At Be&Lead, our Hubspot journey has been long—but it’s paying off. Our data is getting cleaner, and I now know who reads our articles and who’s interested in our tools. This investment is helping us scale digitally.
C. Build a true feedback culture
A vision, a leadership style—it’s not set in stone. Modern leadership is based on constant exchange. Your teams must be able to question your decisions and communication style. Encourage honest feedback, from the bottom or the top. It’s not just a best practice—it’s critical to success in a world where trust and collaboration drive performance.
At Netflix, it’s the key to their phenomenal success. (Re)read No Rules Rules.
D. Innovate in your management practices
Hybrid work is the new norm—whether your team is remote or located abroad. It’s time to focus on results over presence. Digital tools enable real-time, asynchronous project monitoring. Integrating these tools into your management strategy builds an agile environment without sacrificing performance. Innovation here isn’t just technological—it’s cultural.
Also, opt for shorter meetings, where you manage your speaking time, showcase key team members, and share collective wins and challenges. That boosts engagement.
In conclusion, business transformation forces us to reinvent ourselves—even if it’s not always comfortable. Among your transformation priorities, start by strengthening your self-questioning rituals. For example, take 30 minutes on Fridays and ask yourself:
What should I stop doing that no longer creates value?
Does my schedule reflect my real priorities?
Am I giving myself enough time to reflect on key business, leadership, or communication issues?
Do I view every crisis as an opportunity?
Am I ready to rise to the challenge and modernize myself?
And you, which of these questions inspires you the most?
#leadership #modernize #strategy #digital